Japan has officially deployed long-range missiles in its southwestern region near China, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced Tuesday.

The move comes as diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Beijing hit a new low and Japan aggressively ramps up its military capabilities to counter China’s growing naval presence in the East China Sea.

The surface-to-ship guided missile systems have been installed in Kumamoto, located on the southern island of Kyushu.

With an operational range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), these missiles place significant portions of the Chinese mainland within reach; for instance, Shanghai is situated roughly 900 kilometers from the Kumamoto base.

"Standoff defense capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country... while ensuring the safety of our personnel," Defense Minister Koizumi stated during the announcement.

He characterized the deployment as "an extremely important initiative for strengthening Japan's deterrence and response capabilities."

In addition to the Kumamoto deployment, Koizumi confirmed that a "hyper-velocity gliding projectile" has been stationed in Shizuoka, a coastal area closer to Tokyo. This advanced technology is specifically designed to defend remote islands from hostile forces.

While Japan has historically maintained a strict "self-defense only" military policy, the regional security landscape has shifted Tokyo's strategy.

Since 2022, the government has approved plans for "counter-attack capabilities" in response to increased military activity from China, Russia, and North Korea.

A defense white paper issued last year underscored this shift, noting, "If we continue to rely solely on ballistic missile defense... it will become increasingly difficult to fully address the threat" posed by modern missile technologies.

Tensions have been particularly high following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion in November that Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has long been embroiled in territorial disputes with Japan over the Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu in China).

The deployment has not been without domestic controversy.

Local media reported that the Ground Self-Defense Force delivered missile launchers to the Kumamoto base without prior notification to local communities, sparking protests by residents who fear the move could make their region a primary target in a potential conflict.

Source: AFP